Distributed for Policy Press at the University of Bristol

Cloth $80.00ISBN: 9781447301134
Published
April 2012
For sale in North and South America only

Paper $36.95ISBN: 9781447301127
Published
April 2012
For sale in North and South America only

A familiar, yet contentious topic, the subject of family can present difficulties in the classroom, on levels ranging from personal to political and social. Understanding Family Meanings attacks this dilemma head-on, focusing on family meanings in diverse contexts to enhance our understanding of everyday social lives. Ranging over such issues as power, inequality, and values, this instructive text serves as an ideal introduction to family studies as it explores the shifting and subtle ways individuals, researchers, policymakers, and professionals make sense of the idea of family.

“Understanding Family Meanings inspires the reader to reflect on the fluid and dynamic nature of contemporary families. It is an important new contribution to the literature as it highlights the multiplicity of meanings associated with families depending on context.”

Jaber F. Gubrium, University of Missouri

“A compelling and accessible book, Understanding Family Meanings combines conceptual sophistication with intriguing examples and helpful exercises. Highly recommended, it will be of interest to undergraduate sociology and family studies students in general.”

Contents

1. Why family meanings? Jane Ribbens McCarthyPart 1: ResearchIntroduction to Part 1 Jane Ribbens McCarthy2. Family meanings in contemporary contexts Jane Ribbens McCarthy3. Teasing threads apart Jane Ribbens McCarthy4. Understanding 'family' and household through quantitative evidence Megan DoolittlePart 2: Theories and conceptsIntroduction to Part 2 Shelley Day Sclater5. Family discourses and family practices Shelley Day Sclater6. Intimacy and personal life Shelley Day SclaterPart 3: ContextsIntroduction to Part 3 Jane Ribbens McCarthy7. Family meanings across time and place Jane Ribbens McCarthy and Megan Doolittle8. Family meanings in social policies and professional practices Megan DoolittleConclusions9. Family meanings, family values Shelley Day Sclater, Megan Doolittle and Jane Ribbens McCarthy

Acknowledgements

For more information, or to order this book, please visit http://www.press.uchicago.edu